suburban tipi

John Paananen, designer of Suburban tipi, wanted to “take the fused nomadic home designs of the Yurt, tipi, and igloo and slip the straitjacket of suburban values, materials, and methods of construction over them.” The tipi was first exhibited at Cranbrook Acadamey of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and can now be commissioned. (This thing could make some kids very happy.)

The skin and bones are beautifully constructed. I find the construction photos the most intriguing because they exhibit the bones of the tipi. The tiling of the skin hides the sticks that hold it up. The traditional tipi hade a skin stretched over the structure expressing the way in which it was built and its nomadic capabilities. The night images are more at the heart of the tipi. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful modern day response to the nomadic life style.

This would make a tremendous art and music studio for me. My brother builds Japanese Tea Houses for outdoors. He would love this. I’m not sure I could talk any of my clients in to this. I do try and assist clients to stretch but this might be a big one! Love it for me, though!